The　huge　amount　of　leachate　generated　in　landfills　causes　persistent　pollution　to　soil　and　groundwater.　Landfill　cover　is　vital　for　reducing　leachate　generation　through　reducing　rainwater　infiltration.　Yet,　the　traditional　cover　with　capillary　barrier　effects　(CCBE)　is　only　applicable　in　reducing　rainwater　percolation　at　its　base　in　arid　or　semi-arid　region.　To　solve　this　problem,　a　novel　capillary　barrier　cover　is　proposed,　which　adds　multiple　gravel-segments　to　the　traditional　CCBE　to　form　the　zipper-shape　interface　between　fine-　and　coarse-grained　soils.　Hydraulic　response　of　this　zippered　CCBE　is　numerically　investigated　considering　different　gravel-segment　sizes,　drainage-ditch　widths　and　climate　conditions.　It　is　found　that　the　zippered　CCBE　has　a　lower　water　percolation　than　the　traditional　one　by　up　to　57　%.　It　is　because　the　capillary　barrier　effects　along　the　right　side-wall　of　gravel-segment　leads　to　water　accumulation　and　hence　water　percolation　near　its　base,　facilitating　reducing　water　percolation　using　drainage　ditch　below　the　gravel-segment.　Moreover,　water　percolation　increases　when　the　gravel-segment　height　exceeds　0.3　times　thickness　of　fine-grained　soil　or　the　gravel-segment　width　increases,　due　to　reduction　of　water　storage　in　fine-grained　soil.　Under　the　recorded　annual　precipitation　of　1235　mm　in　the　semi-humid　region　in　China,　the　annual　percolation　of　the　traditional　and　zippered　CCBEs　are　84　mm/year　and　36　mm/year,　respectively.　Thus,　the　zippered　CCBE　might　extent　the　applicability　of　the　traditional　CCBE　from　arid　or　semi-arid　region　to　semi-humid　region.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd